Taprobane Sri Lanka: Private Bliss
The exotic shores of Taprobane Sri Lanka are calling you to come out and play. The private island is a stone’s throw away from the shores of Weligama and from your own idyllic luxury villa you can glance out at fishermen casting their nets in the warm waters, watch cows bobbing gracefully to cool…
How I retraced my roots at Villa Caemilla
Personal review from Vanessa Liwanag’s stay at Villa Caemilla Luxury Boutique Hotel in Boracay Island, Philippines. Feeling at Home - Villa Caemilla, Boracay Having lived in Europe for the longest time, tracing my roots coming back to Philippines had me yearning for a spot to call home. I grew up…
Why You Should Sleep Under The Stars in Boracay
A personal review of Under The Stars in Boracay by Vanessa Liwanag. The Story - Under The Stars, Boracay Part of our visit in the island of Boracay was a tour of the famed luxury property called Under The Stars, which is located on the calm beach of Tambisaan in Boracay, the Phillipines. Built by…
Why heritage is all in the details at Hotel Felicidad
Personal review from Vanessa Liwanag’s stay at Hotel Felicidad in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The Arrival - Hotel Felicidad in Vigan, Philippines The north of the Philippines is home to numerous historical destinations which includes the quaint and charming city of Vigan. Stepping on the…
How to be Swept Away by the Crimson Resort and Spa
Personal review from Vanessa Liwanag’s stay at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines. The Unique Setting - Crimson Resort and Spa A visit to the Philippines requires any itinerary to pay homage to the Queen City of the South, Cebu. Home to great furniture designers, the best…
A feeling of heaven in my heart at the Amanpulo
Personal review from Vanessa Liwanag’s stay at Amanpulo in Pamalican Island in the Philippines. The welcoming arrival – Amanpulo, Pamalican Island, Philippines Tiny dots that appear to be little islands scatter the vast blue sea, as we look from our chartered Dornier 2283 aircraft that left a very…
Papua New Guinea: Nature and Culture
Intrepid travelers seeking something far from the easy going shores of the Caribbean or the comforts of modern Europe can embark on the ultimate pristine beach break to the wilderness of Papua New Guinea. This off the beaten track adventure is as close to the unknown as you can hope to get, a place…
Cliff Diving Boracay: White Sands in Philippines
The pint sized yet perfect island of Boracay is quickly becoming the poster child for the beauty of the Philippines and is consistently hitting the top spot when it comes to being one of the most dazzling islands in the world. With its peachy powder stretch of sand, its palm tree fringes and its…
Taketomi Island: White Sand Beaches, Japan
Take a deep breath of pristine air and throw yourself into the floral beauty and ancient traditions of Taketomi Island in Japan. Perched off the shores of Okinawa this tiny island is home to a mere three hundred inhabitants who spend their days strumming stringed banjo instruments, tending the…
Visit Hong Kong: Top 3 hotels
I recently had the pleasure to visit Hong Kong and I got the chance to experience stays at three of the top hotels in the world. One on Kowloon and two on Hong Kong island proper. Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong Housed in the towering International Commerce Centre on the Kowloon side, the Ritz-Carlton is a…
Himalayan Peaks: Mother Nature's Magic
Dramatic, imposing and nothing short of majestic – the Himalayan peaks are one of Mother Nature’s most impressive feats. These are mountains beyond mountains, these are peaks that cut like a knife through the clouds, that dwarf all living things and that not even the furious beating of a birds…
Diving Koh Tao: A Thai Adventure
Jaw dropping in her beauty, sublime in her energy and flooded with chic vibes, diving Koh Tao seems to blend all the good parts of Thailand. It’s true that Koh Tao does have a few dark spots that mar the picture postcard vision but for those travelers who play it safe you can certainly find your…
Thailand Adventure: Ko Phi Phi
Lovers of Leonardo Di Caprio's thailand adventure movie The Beach, may faintly recognize the pale turquoise waters, the shimmering white sands and the impressive rocky peaks of Ko Phi Phi and Maya Bay. This is one of the locations chosen for its mesmerizing paradise charm and solitude, the latter…
Visit Angkor Wat: The Lost City
Would you like to visit Angkor Wat? The intricate carved temples of the lost city of Angkor are one of the main reasons travelers sojourn thousands of miles but nothing can prepare you for the spectacle. Mesmerizing and mystical it is hard to believe that these ancient wonders were once carved by…
Bodhi Tree at Bodhgaya
Those who have ever sat for a second in the lotus position, who have pored over Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha and who dream of seeking a glimpse of enlightenment will grasp the chance to sit beneath the famous Bodhi tree of Bodhgaya. This is said to be the spot where Prince Siddhartha rested beneath…
Ananda Spa, India: Bliss in the Himalayas - Pt 2
At Ananda Spa, each season comes with its share of beauties – spring bursts forth with colors, summer features glorious days and balmy nights, monsoons transform it into a dreamscape, autumns are splendid, and winters clear and pure. And the natural beauty of the place is augmented by the…
Lantern Festival Taiwan: Light Up the Sky
Centuries of culture, winding coastal roads, sweeping forests and world-class cocktails – these are just a handful of reasons to visit the elegant and sometimes childish grace of Taiwan. There is something about the ‘other China’ that makes you want to crack a smile, to run barefoot in the grass…
Things to do in Langkawi: Top Five
Langkawi, or Langkawi Jewel of Kedah as it is officially known, was my first taste of the exotic East and luxury travel. It is an archipelago in the Andaman Sea off the coast of mainland Malaysia. It consists of approximately 104 islands. However, only two of these islands are inhabited: Pulau Tuba…
Ananda SPA, India: Bliss in the Himalayas - Pt 1
An uneventful flight, on a glorious June morning, took us to the cutesy Jolly Grant Airport, the nearest one to the destination spa we were headed to. Greeted by a chauffeur clad in pristine white with a vibrant red turban, we boarded the car which was to take us to our destination. After a good 40…
Private Island Retreat: Pangkor Laut
Imagine the warm breeze rushing through your hair and the waves lapping either side of you as you arrive via speedboat at your private island retreat. This heaven-like vision becomes a reality when you stay at the Pangkor Laut Resort - one of the leading hotels of the world. Located in the Strait…
